Web construction for top fitting castings



WEB CONSTRUCTION FOR .TOP FITTING CASTINGS Filed Feb. 2e, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR r Jszdare )Yaz'owil'y ATTORNEY sept. 9, 195s r 1. HORow-rrz 2,851,293

WEB CONSTRUCTION FOR TOP FITTING CASTINGS A Filed` Feb. 26, 1954 Ziheets-Sheet 2 i Y JNVENToR.

Iardaze .Hraz'awij A 4 fr ice ,United States WEB CNSTRUCTIDN FOR TOP FITTING CASTINGS Isadore Horowitz, Shreveport, La. Application February 26, 1954, Serial No. 412,764

1 Claim. (Cl. 287-54) This invention relates to castings and particularly leg sockets `designed to serve as top fittings for connections at the` junction of converging angular leg tubings and the top horizontal bar of playground apparatus.

The top fittings, of malleable iron, steel, cast iron, aluminum castings, or any other suitable metal is Welded to the tophorizontal bar, and welded or bolted to the converging tubings on the opposed ends of the apparatus. The leg sockets are `connected on the sides with integral web portions and adequately braced on their bottoms. Although the top fittings .are particularly adapted to use on playground apparatus it can be appreciated they may also be used on other playground equipment as well as tresscls, horses and other tubing apparatus requiring rigid connections where there is constant `strain atthe junction of the supporting members.

In conventional apparatus, the means used for connecting the tubings at their junctions, such as `in slides, gym sets and the like, the connections have proved most inadequate over a period'of use due to the severe strain and wear at these locations. j The rough treatment given these constructions by almost constant use tends to weaken the 4connections and often separation of the individual parts, necessitating repeated repair and replacement of worn parts. The subject invention has been designed and constructed to overcome these difficulties by the provision of rigid and rugged connections, which because of their strength and design, has reduced the Wear and strain with the resultant long life of the apparatus and individual parts.

It is an object of the invention to provide integral top fittings adapted to firmly and securely contain the ends of playground apparatus tubing against dislodgement.

Another object is to provide adjustable means for se- `curing the converging tubular apparatus leg supports to the top fittings.

A further object is to prevent relative movement of the top horizontal bar and the converging leg supports.

An additional and most important objective is to provide a guide and bearing support for each of the ends of the apparatus leg supports.

Still another object is to provide a playground `apparatus whereby the component parts may be individually packed for shipping and readily assembled upon receipt by the recipient.

Other and further objects will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification and drawing, and the forms of the apparatus which may be employed to practice the invention as illustrated.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the top fitting to be applied to the ends of the converging tubular leg supports and the horizontal bar.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the lines 2-2 with the ends of the horizontal bar and one of the tubular leg supports positioned therein.

Figure 3 is a similar vertical sectional View taken :at

right angles to the preceding view with only the converging tubular leg supports contained in the fitting.

Figure 4 is a side elevation :of the top fitting.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan View of the top fitting.

Figure 6 is `a perspective view of a playground apparatus showing the component parts assembled.

Figure 7. is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 3 showing the tubular leg supports in position.

Figure 8 is a modification of the top fitting with an end of the horizontal bar' shown inposition.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like parts, the numerals 10 and 12 indicate the intersecting leg sockets, while 14 refers to the horizontal socket to receive an endof the apparatus horizontal bar 16. Numerals 18 and 2il indicate two of the apparatus leg supports.

integrally connecting the leg sockets 12 and 14 are front and rear webs 22 and 24 of approximately triangular formation. It is to be noticed that the sockets 12 and i4 are not lcompletely tubular but are open centrally of the fitting at their junction with the web portions 22 and 24 whereby the webs are spaced `a distance less than the diameter of the leg sockets. At the bottom of the fitting races 26 and 28 are formed leaving an opening 30 centraily thereof.

integrally formed at the apex of the inner face of each i of the web portions 22 and '24 are projections 32 and 34 of general triangular formation. Each side of these two projections 32 and 34 is arcuate conforming to the inner radi-i of the semi-tubular sockets, the apex termination meeting at approximately the bottom of the horizontal tubular socket 14.

When the ends of the tubular supports 18 and 20are inserted in the sockets 10 and 12, on either side ofthe braces 26 :and 2S, they bear against the outer edges 36 and 38, which are a continuation of the metal forming the sockets 10 and 12, as well as against the arcuate sides of the projections 32 and 34 near the top of the fitting. Obviously, the inner diameters of each of the sockets are continuous so as to present a form fitting guide and support for each of the tubular apparatus leg supports, the ends of which closely approach the top of the inside of each converging socket when properly positioned. Threaded bolts 40 and 42 are positioned centrally of the front side of each socket 10 and 12, near the bottom, to adjustably secure the tubular leg supports within each of the fitting sockets. With respect to this construction, it can be understood that through the provision of the upper front cut out portion in the horizontal sockets the horizontal apparatus bar may be readily secured .into position as opposed to conventional devices where the insertion ofthe component apparatus parts in their respective supporting members are usually quite a problem of assembly. Even though this difficulty lis removed in the subject apparatus there is no loss or elimination of suitable supporting structure.

lt is also to be noticed in the present invention disclosing a unitary fitting, the customary inadequate shaft engaging and supporting means when similar converging sockets are used are not present for provisions have been made to obtain leg engaging means that almost completely surrounding their peripheries even at the top where they extend well into the sockets. Additional rigidity is also provided through the connecting or continuous web portions on the front and -rear as well as by the provision of horizontally disposed connecting braces at the bottom r of the fittings. It is to be further noticed that only the minimum of metal has been used to provide adequate leg supporting and engaging means but there has been no sacrifice in strength or rigidity due to the specific locations of these elements.

Normally, the fitting has first been applied to the ends of the horizontal bar 14 by welding or any other well known means for subsequent positioning on the ends of the tubular leg supports. This feature lends itself well where facilities .are not available for the purchaser to have these parts secured.

It can be appreciated thateven though the component parts are not attached at'the time of shipping they may even then be readily assembled and secured together to present the complete playground apparatus.

Although not a part of the subject invention, the assembly in Figure 6, also discloses the conventional swings 44 and 46, gym rings 48, ladder 50, sky-skooter 52 and trapeze 54 which may be quickly attached at appropriate locations. Upon receipt of the shipping packages containing the individual component parts, the entire playground apparatus may be quickly assembled for immediate use,

With particular reference to the modification in Figure 8 where the top fitting shown is adaptable for use on apparatus employing tubing of smaller diameter the socket 56 for a horizontal .apparatus bar 58 is of ditferent formation. As in the preferred for-m, the sockets 60 for the converging apparatus end supports is provided with a pair of tubing supports securing and adjusting bolts 64 adapted to extend through -the socket tubing and hold the apparatus tubing supports :against movement. However,

the tubular guides disclosed in the preferred form are also included in this modification.

The semi-tubular socket 56 also serves as a bearing and support for the apparatus horizontal tubular ends but in this case the top half has been cut away so that the horizontal bar 58 may more easily be located in position :and is adapted to even abut the inner surface of the rear of the fitting. The edges 62 slant rearwardly and upwardly to the top and rear of the fitting.

What is claimed is:

In top fittings for the horizontal bar and the converging leg supports of a playground apparatus, an integral casting of general triangular formation having two converging partial tubings terminating at the junction with a short horizontal tubing disposed at right angles thereto,-

the `rear faces of said converging tubings and end of said horizontal tubing being approximately at, the front end of said horizontal tubing extending an appreciable distance in front of the front face of said converging tubings, intenconnecting flat continuous web portions on the front and rear faces of said top fittings, spaced braces connecting said two web portions forming an opening in the lower face of said fittings, the opposed edges of said braces being a continuation of the metal forming the inner diameter of said converging tubings, said webs being spaced a distance less than the inner diameter of said converging tubings, said horizontal tubings adapted to support the ends of the horizontal top bar of said playground apparatus and the converging tubings adapted to receive the ends of the converging leg supports, means for adjustably securing said top iittings on said converging leg supports comprising threaded bolts in the front face of each of said converging leg tubings, projections formed at the top of the inner faces of said web portions resulting in a continuation of the metal forming said converging tubings, said projections extending inwardly of each web portion but spaced from each other, said projections being spaced from said connecting web braces, and the inner edges of said projections and braces forming a partial continuation of said converging tubings whereby cooperative engagement is had with the major portion of the periphery of the engaged ends of said apparatus leg supports.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,147,668 Anderson July 20, 1915 1,833,022 Judelson Nov. 24, 1931 2,171,681 Burke Sept. 5, 1939 2,603,272 Rowand July 15, 1952 2,696,396 Pettaluga Dec. 7, 1954 2,705,162 Linsky Mar. 29, 1955 2,711,917 Blu June 28, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 167,903 Great Britain Aug. 25, 1921 

